Do You Remember Him #3- Karel Poborsky

Biodata

Full Name: Karel Poborsky

Nationality: Czech

Date of Birth: 30 March 1972

Position: Winger

Former Clubs:

1991- 1994 Ceske Budejovice

1994- 1995 Viktoria Zizkov

1995- 1996 Slavia Prague

1996- 1998 Manchester United

1998- 2000 Benfica

2000- 2002 Lazio

2002- 2005 Sparta Prague

2005- 2007 Ceske Budejovice

International Career:

1994- 2006 Czech Republic

Achievement:

Slavia Prague

1995- 1996 Czech First League

Manchester United

1996 FA Community Shield

1996- 1997 Premier League

1997 FA Community Shield

Sparta Prague

2002- 2003 Czech First League

2003- 2004 Czech Cup

2004- 2005 Czech First League

Career

When someone mentioned about Euro 1996 Competition in England, what will you remember? Paul Gascoigne’s goal celebration? Oliver Bierhoff’s winning goal in the final? Or even Southgate’s missed a penalty kick in the semi-final against Germany? So do you remember the Czechs impressed in this tournament and one of their star winger had attracted Manchester United to sign him after the tournament?

Karel Poborsky started his footballing career in his hometown club, Ceske Budejovice. His form in Ceske Budejovice was impressive as he helped his club to a sixth-placed finish in his final season in the club. He had subsequently transferred to Viktoria Zizkov and Slavia Prague for the next two seasons, which Poborsky won his first Czech First League in Slavia Prague.

With his impressive performance in Slavia Prague, Poborsky has been selected in the Czech Republic 22 man squad for Euro 1996 in England. He continued burning hot form in this tournament and scored one of the best goals in the tournament against Portugal. He chipped the ball and lobbed it over Vitor Baia. Besides, he led the Czechs team into the finals and lost to an Oliver Bierhoff’s Golden Goal in the extra time. However, Poborsky had made his mark in the tournament.

His performance in the tournament had caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson and brought him to the Old Trafford for just 4.00mil Euro. He arrived in Manchester United in the same transfer window as Ronny Johnsen, Jordi Cruyff and one of the cult heroes in United's history, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. All of the expectation from the United fans was actually on him, especially he had joined one of the best football clubs in England at that moment after an impressive tournament. However, his playing time was limited due to the rising of David Beckham. In his short one-and-a-half season in Old Trafford, Poborsky still managed to collect a Premier League medal and also helping Manchester United reach the Champions League semi-finals, only losing to the eventual winner, Borussia Dortmund. He really has done his part whenever he was given chances to shine on the pitch.

In order to ensure more playing time, Poborsky joined Benfica in January 1998. It was in Lisbon he regained his reputation. The partnership between him and Joao Pinto has become the fan favourite. Poborsky has also been selected one of the players that take part in Euro 2000, which Czech flopped in the competition by getting eliminated in the group stages. He returned to Benfica after the competition and his form couldn't recover as he only scored one goal in the half a season stay in Benfica. Poborsky moved to Lazio in January 2001. It is in Rome he rediscovered his magnificent form and confidence. He played an instrumental role in Lazio’s title charge in the 2001-2002 Serie A season, which only lost their title to Juventus in the last day of the season.

Poborsky returned to his home nation after a one-and-a-half season in Italy, this time signing with Sparta Prague. He became the highest-paid player in the Czech First League when he signed for them. He won two more Czech First League title and one Czech Cup with Sparta Prague. In the meantime, Poborsky also led the Czech Republic national team to another finals appearance in Euro 2004, this time lost to the miraculous Greece national team.

Poborsky returned to his first club, Ceske Budejovice in 2005. He also helped the Czech Republic to their first and currently the only appearance in the World Cup finals in 2006. Poborsky retired from international competition in 2006 and announced his retirement in 2007 after the match against Slavia Prague.

Post Retirement

Poborsky mainly appeared in Manchester United’s legendary match after his retirement. However, Poborsky was put into a medically-induced coma in 2016 after contracting a brain infection that left the muscle in his face paralysed. He claimed that he might have died if he had arrived at the hospital one day later.